Does anyone out there have experience getting through the application process for SSDI? My husband has EOAD at age 54 and if he worked for anyone other than himself probalby would have lost his job by now. However, he's the boss and his staff and I have been picking up the slack....doing all the things for him that he cannot do anymore like books and administrative tasks. But since he's technically still showing up at the office will the SS people consider that to be "working"? I'm not sure if they go out and do field interviews with co-workers or anything like that. I would rather not tip off the world that he has this diagnosis for fear it might scare some of his clients. As long as we can cover for him we will. But I would like to get the 24 mos. clock started so he'll have the medicare option if the client's bail when they find out.

Any advice on how the process works would be greatly appreciated.

My husband also owned a business when he started showing signs.We sold it because he could no longer handle it and business was dwindling. Our experience with SSDI is only one of thousands. In our case my husband applied for benefits and was turned down through each step of the process. At each point we were told his symptoms were not severe enough to qualify.Eventually ( With the help of a lawyer he was approved and he was paid back for the 2 yr. period.)Of course in that time his disease also progressed signifcantly. My suggestion would be to start the process ( in our case there were no field visits or anything like that) We simply filled out papers and provided the names of doctors.) It's actually a pretty impersonal process.
I would suggest that you make sure you assist him in filling out papers. In his early stages my husband often underplayed how much assistance he required and so had I left the application process to him he would never have included how much much support he needed.What is important to show in the application process is his inability to continue as he had in the past. With out a firm diagnosis you can expect it to take a lone time. If you have any specific qustions I'll be glad to answer if I can

jbell in denver here. my first call to ssd got a real brush off along these lines: if you're going to retire early a year from now there's no point because your disabilty check wil revert to soc sec income anyway and it will take two years to get ssi. now i am finding out that may not be true. it makes me ashamed what "we" as americas have become. michale moore's 'sicko' movie really told the truth whether you want to hear it or not. so like many things i am going to go down to their office, pick up a form and begin the challange myself. i have no insurance and the diagnostic process through denver public health is slow at best. they are hard working life savers but in our system there is not a lot they can do. god bless them. so i say 'yes' get started and prepare to fight for it! my partner went through the process with the amputation of both his legs from diabetes. we fought every step. and we got the back pay. but i literally had to take him down to there office and show them he was without legs (his hands are in danger now). it is REALLY DIFFERENT FOR POOR PEOPLE (e.g. without insurance). you are treated differently. you must lay your humanity on the line before them in a way where they cannot hide their prejudices. but you must not lose your own sense of compassion. anger impedes enlightenment! hmm...i seem to be soapboxing
but this is a result of my experience. jbell

K. Lockhart -

I can't find your email address - email me?

Amy

Try going over to The Alzheimer Spouse website:

www.thealzheimerspouse.com

The link to the message boards is in the menu on the left.

There are a couple of people over there who are very familiar with the different types of support that are available, and they're very helpful, "Jane" in particular. A couple of the members are also beginning to be quite active in getting attention paid to EOAD spouses.

It's a great site, good people.

I was very lucky from what I understand. My brother (age 53) was approved for SSD on the first try. We began our quest for a diagnosis in late September 2007. January 2008 his was diagnosised with EOAD . Applied in February recieved benefits mid-April.